A rough road trip

Not much more you can say that that. We didn’t pitch, hit, defend or do much of anything else all that great – it was just a rough road trip altogether. But you know what? In 2005 we started out 12-2 and everyone was talking about making World Series plans, only to see us finish 71-91. So, while none of us are okay with the way the team is playing right now, the only thing we can do is work hard to turn it around and hope that some home cooking serves the team well.

And for what it’s worth, I hope all of our fans realize that Ned Colletti was not trying to call out Matt Kemp solely in his comments yesterday on KABC. He was specifically asked about Matt’s defense and answered the questions he was asked, but his concerns were voiced about everyone involved in baseball operations, from himself on down to the players. And he reiterated those concerns today to reporters in NY.

Anyway, the homestand starts tomorrow and I’m sure you USC and UCLA fans already know that you can come support your schools at the stadium. Plus the ever-popular fleece blanket night and plenty of other fun in store over the next 10 days. Don’t let the road trip get you down…I know I’m always the optimist but it’s hardly a time for panicking.

OK Josh, you say “I hope all of our fans realize that Ned Colletti was not trying to call out Matt Kemp solely in his comments yesterday.” And Colletti himself now claims, “I didn’t single Matt Kemp out…”

One more time, from The Times today: “The baserunning’s below average,” he said. “The defense is below average. Why is it? Because he got a new deal? I can’t tell you.” Excuse me, but even if he corrects himself later and/or was taken out of context (something I doubt, seeing as how it was on the Dodger’s flagship radio station), if THAT quote isn’t singling someone out, I need a refresher course on the English language. If he didn’t mention Kemp’s new contract perhaps I’d believe he was talking about the team in general. But he was talking about Kemp. He’s just another liar. Put him right next to his lyin’-asss boss.

Josh, just because a reporter/interviewer asks a very specific question doesn’t mean you have to bite. For instance what if I asked you what you thought of Frank McCourt as an owner since his marriage fell apart. You could a) be gracious and say he only wants the best for his team and the fans of LA, or b) you could say that’s a very inappropriate, loaded question, or c) you could answer that he’s a greedy a-hole. Now, which one would you put on record? Here, I’ll play: kahliforni, what do you think of Matt Kemp’s performance so far? Matt Kemp is a budding superstar playing on a team with major deficiencies (those deficiencies being Ned’s and Frank’s fault, of course). See, that wasn’t so hard. And when the reporter says I’m sugar-coating my answer, I call him an ambulance-chasing parasite and move on.

bpb2: Mr McCourt, the public is clamoring to know why you would want to add a bicycle event to your Boston, er… excuse me, LA Marathon. Oh, and if you would, please wait for a couple of minutes for your answer until that sodium pentothal I’ve injected in you takes effect.

McCheap: It’s simple. At $125 a pop times 26,000 runners, I gross $3,250,000. I figure in a place like this there will be that many bike riders easy. There will be no more overhead because the whole thing is planned and routed. We’re just adding to the gross without hardly adding any more cost. Next, I’ll add motorcycles. Then it’s a natural to include cars. Boy, PT Barnum was right, wasn’t he?

bpb2: What do you mean by that? Are you saying that we’re all suckers?

McCheap: Of course I am, you friggin’ moron! How else do you explain the lines at the Dodger Stadium box office??? BAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!!

Watching you guys get swept by the Mets was bittersweet, given that I’m a Mets fan, but I love Joe Torre and I think there’s no team more deserving to win the NL West (also, the Dodgers did come from Brooklyn originally). I’m sure you’ll get it back together… I don’t really think Colletti went about lighting a fire under his team’s *** the right way. Whenever someone like George Steinbrenner made comments like that it never worked, and if anyone needs to lash out at the team for lackluster playing, it’s the manager, and we all know Joe doesn’t do that. He always finds a way to win, though.

name me one person who didn’t see concern with the pitching staff heading into the year other than Coletti? Coletti could have said, u know i shouldn’t have said anything about Kemp. His OPS is over .900 and he has 20rbi in 20 games. Which is leading the 2nd best offense in the game.

Our staffs ERA is over 5. 5th worse in baseball. Our bullpen has 1 save total and were 2nd in the majors in walks.

At 2nd he replaces the best defensive 2nd baseman with a rookie who fields poorly and ******* about defense?

Joe’s contract is put on hold
Neds dumpster diving is having ill fated effects
Ned and the Boy’s being disgruntled, to the point that there is friction within them.
Padilla being named our #1 starter……..
Frank holding Yankee tickets hostage…..
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Do the players know someting we don’t…..like the date of a soon to be announced garage sale???

Frank says he wants his kids to inherit the team someday…..Lets face it…one is in charge of publicity/marketing and his department couldn’t tell the difference between Loney and Kemp, on several occasions last year….and the other collects a three figured paycheck while attending Stanford……..
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SELL THE TEAM…NOT TO JAMIE….and NOT PIECE BY PIECE!!!

Okay Josh. You know I have always supported you and your words on various topics that you put here on ITD. And I STILL defend my choice of defending you in the past.

But for God’s sake, how can you possibly say that Ned Colletti was not trying to call out Matt Kemp? Even if I was in Ned’s shoes when he made his comments yesterday on KABC, wouldn’t it have been smarter to divert attention to any one player (even if that player was someone like George Sherrill) and say something like, “We win as a team and we lose as a team…” Something like that! But no, Ned HAD to answer the question directly and through our best hitter under the bus. I’m extremely disappointed with you Josh and how you are defending Ned’s words.

And Ned, oh Ned. I don’t think you have a clue about what’s best for the Dodgers. When everyone under the sun KNEW that our pitching staff was and is the weakest part of our ball club and knew that getting a top-line pitcher or pitchers should have been your biggest priority, you get Carroll, Johnson and Belliard. These guys are great off the bench and honestly, is an area that DID improve over last year. But that’s it; our pitching is horrible.

There have been years where the Dodgers didn’t field that great a ball club too, but this year’s version of our pitching staff is more atrocious than anything I’ve seen in a LONG TIME…

Good Evening ITD readers and writers!!!! First of all, thanks for all the birthday wishes throughout the day. I was on a field trip today with my class. Rain was expected and it never happened (during the trip anyway). So, that made the day much more enjoyable. I would have loved for a Dodger win, but I guess that was just being too hopeful perhaps.

Ward Dear/Dodgereric – What a fabulous letter! I dare them to publish it!! It really is what MOST of us think, and I really hope they do.

I read that article early, early this morning, and I was utterly speechless, and thinking like lbirken, I was sure the ITDers were going to have a field day with this one. You didn’t disappoint. The countless lists of Ned acquisitions that you all were posting are quite astounding and just ridiculous!!

I am trying my best to be optimistic about our offense. I know they have what it takes. Maybe it’s just very bad timing they all decided to take the week off in terms of hitting. I think the pitching is a much more serious issue, and I just wish FranknNed would take a good look and notice that is the issue, not our offense and especially not Matthew. I can’t even blame Torre for that because I think in terms of pitching, it may be the only thing Torre and ITD have in common right now. I still think his game time decisions are suspect, but he has said all along he wanted pitching and what did he get Padilla and the Suicide Squad.

Happy Birthday Nelly!! Wish we could have given you a Dodger win. Hope you had a great one!!! Lot’s of great posts and opinions. I for one, am just totally disappointed, frustrated, and disillusioned with the team right now. Ned should take a look in the mirror before he opens his yap!!!!

Jhall – I was thoroughly disgusted when I heard about this mess. But we ALL know that McCourt is probably thrilled that Ned said this crap. Now McCourt will have the excuse he needs to trade Matt for nobody, save some $$$ and say, “See what happens when you don’t play your hardest?” And I wish that what I just said about a trade is based in nothing but pure folly. But how much you want to bet that something like that happens?

Hey CP!! You snuck in while I was typing my post. Thanks and great post yourself. How is life?

Jhall – it was a great day!!! Alot of fun surprises throughout the day :)) It’s okay the Dodgers didn’t win. Maybe the home cooking will do them well. It’s got to be hard on some of the players. Just knowing from reading what Andre and others are like, this offensive drought can’t be sitting well with them either. So, Ned’s comment towards Matt was just so uncalled for and inappropriate when just by reading TMZ, you know there are more major issues than Matt’s baserunning and defensive play. I just get all worked up just thinking about that article.

CP, if the McCourts are not forced to sell the team, I can’t see any of our young talent staying. If Frank doesn’t unload them to pad his own wallet, they will leave when they have the opportunity. Hell’, I’d be itching to get out of there with Frank and Ned running the show!!!

My Nellygirl!
I can’t stay long, but I couldn’t stay away from ITD after hearing that debacle between Ned and Matt. I hope to God that I’m totally off-base with my tr*** comment. But it seems to me that way back when, before Piazza was traded that he said something that others said foretold about his short tenure with the Dodgers. I’m hoping I’m totally wrong, but I’ve seen stuff like this blow up in that way before….

Jhall – I know you’re right. If the McCourts don’t sell the team (and I’m not talking about to another McCourt), I know that our Young Guns will bolt for greener pastures elsewhere. Like I said in my last post, I’ve seen stuff like this blow up before.

edwcarter – Thank you so much!!! How are you doing? It’s good to read you on here again.

CP – I hope you are wrong too, but I have been having these types of theories going on in my head too. There has got to be some reason for these “out of the blue” comments when everybody in the Dodger baseball universe knows our problem is pitching.

Unfortunately, I can see this getting much worse before it starts to get any better. They say, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Right now I need to find someone whose life is giving them limes and salt so we can make Margarita’s!!! LOL

I’m so disheartened at what has transpired with this franchise.
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Yesterday while driving home from work (I had a meeting where I had a 2 hour drive) I listened to most of the second game. It was pathetic to listen to. For one Charlie Steiner needs to go. He is a blubbering idiot. I’m sorry for calling him a name but that is all I can think of when I listen to him. He makes mistakes all game long and doesn’t make the call so you don’t know what the hell happened. Did you know that we hadn’t scored a run in 23 straight innings? I didn’t either. But according to Charlie we haven’t. Now I know that is nit picking but he had about 10 mistakes while I was listening to him. In addition to the mistakes trying to figure out what is going on just is really difficult.
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Another call he made yesterday with runners on 1st & second (If my memory serves me correctly) went something like this… Ball hit to DeWitt who gloves it and throws to 1st and everybody is safe… except at second.
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So by process of elimination I figured that DeWitt must of gloved the ball touched second and threw to 1st but the runner beat the throw at 1st. Very different than what Charlie called it. This is how he calls the game. So he is my 1st that needs to go. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not disliking of the person he is just I don’t think he is a good at calling the play by play.
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So while listening to him babble I found myself thinking about the team and what has happened with this team & I got angry.
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Angry at Ned because he said that he was pursuing T. Hunter as well as CC. Then found out that he really wasn’t.
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I defended Ned here as well as the owners because they said they were trying to get them. Then afterward the following season both of these players said they were never even contacted by the Dodgers. LIARS!!!
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Can you imagine what this team could of looked like with those 2 additions?
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I was okay with getting A. Jones until I saw him in spring and he looked like the Michelin Man. Why didn’t they check him out 1st. Which made me think of J. Schmidt. So he is my 2nd that needs to go.
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I thought about it and of course they didn’t go after them because they wanted to win on the cheap. Many on here were correct. I wasn’t.
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They kept the youngsters & I was happy with that. I was okay with a few of the PVL’s they signed. But only if they added some good arms which they haven’t even though for a few years we’ve all wanted them to.
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This team for 2 straight years was a #1 pitcher from possibly winning it all. Then going into the playoffs our owners decide to let the cat out of the bag on the day of the NLCS that they are splitting up. Way to get the focus on yourselves. Couldn’t you of waited for a week?
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Last year we hear Jamie say that spending money for high priced players isn’t something that should be done with people losing their houses and jobs and all. But they can and do but 2 homes next to each other in the “Bu”. Nice!! Classy! When that happened I started seeing the light.
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So to recap… They said they were going after players when they really weren’t. Liars.
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They said they were wanting to bring the tradition back to the LA Dodgers. Well Vero moved so the fans of LA could go to Arizona and save some money and time flying cross country. Aww how nice… But wait they raised prices for the seats. Some that were $20.00 were now $95.00 (But they came with the wet towel!!)! Liars!!!
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So I was thinking yesterday about that stuff as well as the security issue and that nothings been said about it. Josh I appreciate what you do and what you do with this blog and the forum it presents us Dodger fans with talking about the games and having fun. But you’ve said in the past that what is said here is brought up in meetings and discussed. Well the security issue is HUGE and the silence speaks volumes. Please don’t come out with some lame PR statement. If that’s the case then just don’t say anything about it. If McCourt is serious about things he’s said in the past about baseball then he HAS to step up to the plate and get this situation under control. His legacy as a Dodgers owner is pretty tarnished at this moment. One way he could turn that around is to make Dodger Stadium a better place than it is.
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So after all this was mulling around in my head I thought well self… Ned was just doing his job. I mean if he can’t spend the $$$ to get guys like CC then I understand him saying we are after them and would love to sign them, we’ll see. I’ll give him a pass. If he only has enough $$$ budgeted to him to buy non name brand food then that’s what he has. At least he didn’t deal away all the ML talent on the roster.
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Then today happened & the Ned interview came out. It really, really got me hacked off. I think it was Khali that stated it above just because someone asks you a question doesn’t mean you have to answer it. I was thinking the same thing as Khali. Say something like, … the team has under performed up to now… We obviously have some weaknesses and these guys are better than they’ve shown… I’ve had conversations with some of the guys and will have some more based on what I feel is their failure to produce and play good solid fundamental baseball. Then if pressed by the interviewer let him know any conversations that need to be had either have been had or will be had. If pressed about Matt he could say Matt’s done a hell of a job offensively and we’d be worse off this season without him. He brings so much to the team. He’s not been as awesome as he was last year but there’s still a lot of the season left. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t in private say to Kemp, come on, pick it up… what do you need to get your game to where we both know it should be… For a PR guy, Ned really flubbed this up BIG TIME!! Even when he tried to correct it today. He should of just stated that the team isn’t up to where they should be and can be & that I shoulder some of the blame but I’ve done what I could with the hand I had.
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After today Ned has to go.
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Then the whole Yankee ticket thing came out. Then the whole goal to raise prices to what the Yankees charge and lower the payroll at the same time came out. As well as other less than flattering stories that continue and have made our franchise a laughing stock.
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I for one trusted that the ownership team wanted whats best for the team and the city of LA.
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They don’t. They have shown their lying selfish ways. The whole thing is a PR factory and they are trying to cover when they can and “sell” the Dodgers as a brand to make $$$.
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So as so many have been calling for on here and elsewhere, do us all a favor Frank and sell the team.
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This way Cuban or someone who cares about baseball for the love of the game or the Dodgers can buy it.
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Then fire Ned and hire Kim Ng as the GM. & Logan White as assistant or President of baseball operations/scouting & development or something in that area.
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Then Torre will retire & bring in someone like Kevin Kennedy or Wallach to Manage. Go get Gibby as a hitting instructor, Hersh as pitching coach. I’d be okay if Don stayed on in there somewhere as I think he’s been decent with the team.
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Then fire Conte.
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Then fire C. Steiner.
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Call it a season & trade Manny, Anderson, and the other PVL’s that have been signed for some pitching & prospects in either/all 2b, 3b, and catcher.
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But before all of those moves Frank step up to the plate. Get the stadium security situation under control. Boot the problems out. Document and send them packing and teach them that their actions aren’t wanted or tolerated in Dodger stadium.
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Sorry this is so long and not the most concise well written piece of literature, but it’s from the heart and has much anger and frustration behind it.

Collie ~ SUPERB! I wish you’d have your post published in the L.A. Times along with Dodgereric’s.
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I also think Charlie is joke as an announcer. I’ve said that for several seasons now. If he’d let Monday talk once in a while it would be toleraable but he doesn’t.

Sorry, Stu, but Ned knows he’s safe because he comes cheap and the owner likes it that way. Bud Selig? You alive? Anyway, McCourt is a business man who knows only Excel spreadsheets. But trying to hit him where it hurts enough to sell the team means us fans forsaking the players. Or maybe not…perhaps we go on strike: gather in the beautiful parks surrounding Chavez Ravine, bring a radio, turn on Vinny, bring assorted libations, enjoy the summer evenings–while making a statement, to boot. To boot these owners, that is. The media would eat it up.

Correction on my post with Steiner.. he stated that we hadn’t scored in 23 GAMES…. not innings. I changed how that was composed so it didn’t work out. But that is just an example of how he’s off all time. It’s little but something that I happened to remember in all of his mistakes.

The word pitch does have mulitple meanings. So, maybe someone needs to ask when Ned says he takes every “pitch” seriously if he is talking about the load of crap that comes out of his mouth everytime he tries to sell the fans on this “game” that he is playing in saying he is trying to get us “real” pitching.

Actually, Tony Jackson didn’t have much to say in that article. It was mostly what had been said in the Times article mentioned earlier. One interesting statistic though, since Manny has been gone, Matt and Andre combined have only had 1 RBI. Now, that is just yuck!

Collie – I guess in reality Tony Jackson didn’t have to say much in that article because Stewart pretty much said it for him. I think you are right. Not that Ned had much respect on ITD lately (well, in some cases never), he has certainly lost whatever respect he did have by picking on the wrong guy.

I just read the Times article…..This all starts with Frank and Jamie McCourt….those two are at the top of the organization, plain and simple. Whatever happens to the people under them, it is because of the McCourts leadership. Ned made a boneheaded statement in saying…. not, that Matt has been a little sub par on the bases, or that he has made some mistakes in the outfield but by saying that it was his new fat contract, that has made him play this way. We all know that Matt plays hard on the field, there is no question as to that fact. We all know he tries hard on the bases…. We also all know that he is still learning, Ned knew this… Frank knew this…..I would suspect that Nancy Bea Hefley knows this…..Not a big secret. Ned has really done the most damage here in my opinion, by possibly alienating himself from future negotiations not only with Matt Kemp, Dave Stewart and the other players represented by him but with every big name, quality player that has the chance to negotiate with him in the future.
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I can’t say for certain that there will be trouble in paradise as far as roster decision’s in the near future, that is purely speculation on my part. Ned seems to be under a fair amount of pressure these days and I am sure Frank is relying on him to help relieve some of the bad press he is facing with the marraige problems and the team ownership in limbo. I think it is fair to say that at this point, the divorce is clearly having an effect on the ballclub. Calling a player out by referring to his recent signing as distruptive to his development, should justify this in my opinion.
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I side with Matt Kemp on this issue, although I do believe that Matt can and will improve his performance in the days and years to come.
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Andre said that these guys need to maintain thier composure. I think this is the smartest thing, I read out of the two articles and many quotes that were made. Being fired up is one thing……being adrift with your mind set is another. Its just a baseball, catch it….hit it…. and throw it….. do it better than your counterpart day in and day out and you’ll win games. Last year we were all having alot of fun during the early part of the season. The team was accepting the challanges brought forth and conquering them at will. ITD was giddy with amazement, in the fact that the Boy’s knew how to win. They were never…I repeat never out of a game.
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I think or at least choose to believe that we will regain this part of our swagger at some point. Will we find it in time to make a difference, I don’t know……I hope so. We have had some bright moments during this rough stretch…..I won’t mention them, as I am sure if you look back you can find a few.
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If you are struggling to play fundamental baseball, when you have a healthy squad….logic would say, your chances would’nt improve with a banged up bunch. However we have proved logic wrong so many times in the past that, doing so again, should become like second nature to us…… So I would just forget about what has happened so far and concentrate on getting things up to our level of play. No Excuses….Just Results. We may not be successful, but we will be unsuccessful playing the game the right way.
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There is still plenty of baseball left to be played, this team can either continue to play poorly…..and I think we can safely say the Boy’s have played poorly……or we can shake this funk…..and get back on track, as a team and a solid ballclub and start climbing our way back to where it is we know we belong!!! The bright side I suppose, is that as bad as we have played….with a few good weeks of play we will be where we believe we should be!!!
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So Lets get back to the basics, and get back to having some fun. We Have Unfinished Buisiness…. to attend to….and I still beleieve that we can check that saying off the list for good!!!!
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GO GET EM BOY’S!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously there’s some front office spin going on in that headline unless he’s changed his name from Clayton to Ace and we didn’t hear about it.

I still can’t figure out unless he slept with Ned’s wife why you would call out a guy who leads your team in HR and RBI as a scapegoat unless you’re trying to create some controversy so you can trade him and keep the masses from rioting. Kemp’s not making several million to pitch like a creaky old gate as the opening day starter. He’s not playing out of position. He’s not a knuckleballer. He’s not the Ronson Lighter of a bullpen that lights up first time every time. He’s not making $45 million to miss several dozen games a year. He’s not making several million to play for another team.

Ned wants to point a finger he needs to look in the mirror. The rest of us have a finger for Ned also. Now that Frank’s asss is so tight it could form diamonds, Ned may not have much choice in the type players he gets, but when Frank WAS willing to spend money, he got us Cow Schidt and JP. All you have to do is look at the player lists of what Ned acquired to know there’s no plan, there’s no evaluation of talent, there’s no THOUGHT PROCESS behind anything that he does. I think most of us could pick people off the street who are better ballplayers than a vast majority of his signings.

I realize mistakes are part of the learning curve. But 4+ years of mistakes should get you fired, not extended. Make no mistake about it, Logan’s boys are what’s kept this team afloat since Ned took over, and for the most part are the only bright spots in an abysmal start.

An owner with some cajones would fire his GM at this point. A GM with some cajones would fire his pitching coach.

Of course a GM with some cajones wouldn’t throw his best player under a bus either…

My favorite…or least favorite part: “Kemp’s never going to forget being called out like this, of course, and there might be consequences down the road for him staying in L.A. Further, Colletti is putting his own reputation in jeopardy by his two-faced approach to discipline. It’s not going to be effective.”

I think Matt’s (and Andre’s for that matter) days are numbered on this ballclub anyway (the finish of their contract max), but those comments Ned made just solidified any thought that they may want to stay.

Josh, I’d run and hide from this Ned and Kemp situation if I were you. There is no way to defend Ned on this one no matter how he tries to spin it now. I can’t believe he actually started out as a PR guy. Are you kidding me?
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North, you are spot on about you comments about the stadium. I have had season seats for over 10 years now and it has gotten worse and worse every year.

Open letter to Matt Kemp:
Dear Matt,
Sorry for the embarrassment. Long after Ned Colletti is stocking shelves at Home Depot, you’ll still be exciting baseball fans. I hope it’s with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not because I need a World Championship but because it’s fun watching a really great player in Dodger blue. I mean, the last two times the Dodgers won, in ’81 and ’88, my life was exactly the same the next morning, anyway. So please pass the word to the rest of the young players that we, the fans, support all of you during the horror that is this current regime, from the owner right on down. If the stars align just right, maybe LA will rid itself of this sad nightmare. Hang in there, tune out the idiots, and enjoy yourself.
Sincerely,
Idiot Blogger

Josh – so 63 has also mentioned that things have gotten worse as the years have gone by.
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I see that skydivers are going to be deployed as the opening act.
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Personally speaking unless they are part of the new security team making an entrance for all to see I’d rather that money be spent hiring and training new security as well as a computer program to track the idiots so they can be prevented from entering.
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Come on Frank… Step up to the plate! I dare you!!!!
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Silence says a lot. In this case it’s saying how McCourt really feels about the fans.

Exactly Nelly!!!
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Josh is Frank just going to keep looking the other way and act like everything is ok?
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Or is he going to take a hard look at this situation and really do something about it?
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Sometimes to make things better you need to be honest with youself & others… Time for some honesty Frank.

Odd that a team that has never won a world series, speaking of the SAN FRANCISCO Giants, would come out of this survey as the #1 loved team. Either the survey is messed up, or the Giants’ fans have their priorities out of order.

Oh yeah BROWNPAPERBAG is back!
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NELLY – It seems to me that the top 10 hated teams are an East Coast thing, something to do with History. Dodgers where in the east coast so the hating starts from there.

“When it comes time for Matt to arbitrate two years from now, we’re going to look at that situation and do what’s best for Matt. When it comes time for Matt to be a free agent three years from now, we’re going to look at that situation in the same way as I would with Chad Billingsley, my other client on that ballclub.

Stewart was a right-handed pitcher for 16 years in the majors and was known for his intimidating presence on the mound. “This kind of thing in all the years I’ve been in baseball has never happened with any general manager on any team I’ve ever played on where you single out a player and you hold him accountable for the outcome of what 24 other players are doing as well,” Stewart said. “There are 25 players on a team.”

Msdodgers – In that case, I don’t mind them being at the top of the list of teams that are truly sad sacks.
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Makes me feel better about our 8-13 losers, since I know our situation is only temporary and will be solved when…
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FRANK SELLS THE TEAM!

I’ll take a little bit of time to expand on my stadium comment from earlier. To help everyone understand where I’m coming from, I started with tickets in the Reserved section and now sit in the Loge section (3B side for both). At one point, I would go to somewhere between 40-60 games a year, but now I go to somewhere between 30-50 because I get tired of all of the issues with parking (a different rant, I know) and the crowd.
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Giants games have always been the worst, but now it doesn’t really seem to matter what team is visiting because all visiting fans are continuously harassed. In just the first homestand, I saw a Giants fan get a water bottle dropped on him from the Reserved level, a Giants fan showered with peanuts and popcorn because he was a Giants fan, numerous fans harassed by whole sections of fans with an expletive being chanted because they either stopped a beach ball or hit it to the Field level and a D-Backs fan “mad-dogged” because he had the nerve to cheer for his team.
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I can imagine that there are countless other stories from others out there as well. Bottom line, going to Dodger Stadium is not nearly as enjoyable as it was when I first became a season ticket holder, let alone when I was much younger.

See Josh, we’re not making this up and we’re not letting this issue slide. Cy’s stories are not from 30 years ago, nor are they from an occasional visitor with an axe to grind. THIS year, this very young year. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me 6 hours to chop down a tree and I’ll spend the first 4 sharpening my axe.” Well, McCheap’s had plenty of time to sharpen that axe. It’s time to get to choppin’ some wood before that tree falls down and pulps the house.

Groundout to 2nd
Groundout to SS
Groundout to P
“Pop” out to RF
Groundout to SS

Looks like he just needed to play everyday. I guess it’s ok to still be paying for this trash, but not ok to sign a decent pitcher. Ned “I’m a Jerk” Colletti never ripped on Pierre’s defense publicly either which was atrocious for three years.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NELLY!! and that is far and away the best thing that’s happened around here lately.
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I think in the end I’d agree McCourt should sell the team. I just don’t get those people owning all those houses and not going out and getting a #1. I had thought we might get away with Padilla, but so far, yuck.
I’d strongly agree about security at the stadium and the HOODLUM BEER ads.
But, personally, I don’t think Colletti’s comments were so bad. As it has turned out, he definitely should have saved them for the managers office, or some other private place. So… we’ll see if they turn this around, it’s much to early to write off the season. I think they will, but if not, we”ll find out who the real fans are.

Nelly, I might have been the one to wonder what we would talk about when JP was traded but I had no idea at the time that we would be talking about Ned’s bonehead comments. Here is a guy who’s job depends upon staying ahead of the other guy to get an advantage; never really actually answering direct questions at all from the media and always keeping a positive spin on everything. What happened?

Under this ownership, the Dodgers’ image has collapsed faster than the 2008 Real Estate Market. I wonder why that is…

BEAUTIFUL posts here today and last night. Some might say the angry sentiment is a reflection of our 8-12 record. That may be a part of it, but the record is a reflection of the owners’ reluctance to open his pocketbook (looking at the track record of the only GM he’s ever known, is it any surprise?), as well as the GM’s continued philosophy of picking off the cheap players other teams didn’t sign/want. EVERYONE on the team wants to win, I don’t doubt that. But it’s the GM’s job to get them to a point where they can win, and it’s the Owners’ job to give the GM the resources to get them to that point.

The thing that puzzles me is: How does Colletti get off on calling out the man they’re marketing as the fan favorite, who at the time was LEADING THE LEAGUE IN HRs AND RBIs?!!!

Oh yeah, because he’s Ned Colletti, that’s why. What was that quote about lard brains and pan grease?

Hey everyone! Got some good news today . . . you may remember i asked for prayer from my “family” here regarding my friend Dave who had been diagnosed with cancer. He went to the doc today and the tumor is gone! He will still have to have one more scan the beginning of June to make sure it’s out of the lymph system, but the doctor is very encouraged. I had to let you all know – we are SO grateful for all your thoughts and prayers – thank you, thank you, thank you :D

As for the other business, you know what would shut everybody up really good right now (aside from the security issues)? Winning. A lot.

We’re not on the east coast for now, and we’re going into only our 7th home game of the year. I feel our luck can change. Won’t erase our pitching depth problems, but it’d be nice to see some resemblance to the ’08 and ’09 squads (aside from the 50 game suspensions).

We’re only 4 games under .500 . A winning homestand, followed by a winning road trip, will be a good first step towards bringing this thing around. The next step, addressing the pitching issues, will likely need to happen in order to even give us the hopes of cracking that October door this year.

I’m tired of looking at the standings and feeling like I’ve been shanghai’d to Bizzaro World.

You want to win, Frank McCourt? Why don’t you prove it? I know every man down on that field in blue wants to win. The fans want to win. Please make our team a winner.

Hi Everybody
And Thanks Josh for recounting the highlights of my career as a fan.
BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE, there’s no place like Los Angeles, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
It was a rough road trip especially in my back yard, Citi field, where me and Truebluewill hung out the last 3 days.
That sb Citi Freeze.
It was windy and cold but we braved it for all 3 horrendous games watching our home town Mets beat up on our beloved Dodgers.
Don’t give up the ship.
Our flag is still there.
GO DODGERS!!!!!

Good evening everybody……just got in from celebrating Nellyjune’s birthday week. The best thing about the Dodgers being home is getting to hear the wonderful Vinny.
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Same old crap as far as hitting with runners in scoring position once again.
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BROWNPAPERBAGS UNITE!!!!!!!!!

Good Bear, thanks!! How about you? Empty seats might get his attention. However, I fear, his response would be a fire sale!!! I have a feeling, he will hang on till the bitter end and drag the franchise down with him. The McCourts don’t give a crap about the fans or the legacy of the Dodgers!!!!

“My personal situation and divorce has no bearing on the team whatsoever… We’re a big-market team and fans deserve a great team on the field… One of our core promises is to consistently put a championship-caliber team on the field.”
–Frank McCourt

Not that anyone gives a rat’s a**, but Jason Repko is hitting .333, with a slugging percentage of .521, and an on-base average of .441 for Twins’ AAA affiliate. But Ned and Joe would rather cut a young, former #1 pick, fighting his way back from serious injuries, in favor of Garrett Anderson and Reed Johnson who won’t even be on the team a year from now. Hey, what can I say, I’ve always been a Repko fan. Just a tiny, insignificant slice of the Dodgers’ “master plan” formulated by Ned for 2010.

Management can’t even address the security at the stadium issue here on ITD. There’s no way they’re going to address the issues on the field.

Generally when a team plays this sloppy and lackluster, heads will start rolling, but since Ned got an extension, just about any day now we should be hearing that Torre and his coaching staff has been renewed for 2011.

Yep, Kemp misplayed that ball alright. It looked like he was a bit indecisive when he was approaching the ball. That was a bit of a cheap shot on the Dodger’s website, mentioning that he misplayed it. No mention that the 2 runs that scored were both walked by Kersh. He fell behind the first batter 3-0 and the second 2-0. That has to stop. But, as I said, no mention on the site or now as I’m listening to the postgame show that the free passes were cashed in.

And I’ll ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE that if Kemp had made a circus catch on that ball, the only one to get any credit for it would have been Colletti for “lighting the fire” under him.

I heard a few when Kemp misplayed that single. Just goes to show you that there are a lot of idiots out there. And how in the world does that official scorer call that a triple anyway? Sheesh! Ned must have hired him, he’s obviously incompetent too.

You know how its done nowadays, point an acusing finger through the media at someone and true or not, the masssesuvasses will follow along. I still think they’re scapegoating Kemp so they can trade him (for pitching?) They know in a couple years they can’t pay him anyway. This way no one says a thing except, “well he had a bad lazy attitude anyway.”

Collie – half the fans aren’t even there when they do those things because most don’t show up until the 3rd inning. So, why even bother doing them at all, especially when our owner is so money strapped that he can’t go out and buy a decent pitcher or two, or invest in getting the hoodlums out of DS.

Unfortunately for the most part BPB2, journalism has gone back into the dark ages of being yellow and/or being used to manipulate and sway public opinion for one’s cause or gain.

The masses are so immune and apathetic to it that they either don’t realize or don’t care to separate the facts from fiction.

This has been a public service anouncement from BPB1 and is in no way the express opinion of this blog or any of its members. Had this been an actual emergency you would’ve been instructed t pull Ned’s head out of his butt and kick Frank in the bunnynutts.

I think they’re all too concerned with being friends with the organizations to ask (and demand actual answers to) the tough questions. And as far as the masses are concerned, we’ve had our collective attention spans so shortened that it’s become too much work to think for ourselves anymore. So we let others make up our minds for us. Woe be unto us.

And if I kicked Frank in his bunnynutts, would I be able to get two-for-one? I mean, my foot would probably clip Ned’s chin on the way to Frank’s nutts.

This is the problem we face as a society BPB2. The one’s that do ask the tough questions are chastized and ostracized for doing so, and indeed sometimes persecuted into submission. What society lacks as a whole is the critical thinking it used to possess decades ago that has been bred out of it the last 2-3 generations.

………and from what I see coming up through the classroom boys and girls, is it is only getting worse. A generation who there only goal or expectation is to fill in the right bubble on a test, and if you do well on that, you must be smart. We don’t care if you can think for yourself or have opinions, as long as you can fill in the right bubble on this day and before the timer goes off. ……………and don’t forget, it has to be 80% or higher to be considered passing nowadays. There is no such thing as being average anymore.

Matt deserves better than this, and believe me he will get it. Another great letter Dodgereric!!!

Love you Matt!!

Shad – it does kind of beg the question why bring in Anderson if Repko could have done the same job, and as it stands, probably would have done much, much better at this point. He certainly wouldn’t have been doing any worse IMO.

“Times writer Jim Peltz is a coward. His recount of Thursday’s game was out of line. Did he even watch the game? There’s no way Kemp could have caught that ball to prevent the first run from scoring. True, he mis-played it. He should have backed off and kept it in front of him, and he admitted that. There were a smattering of boos after the play, but to say that “the boos rained down on Kemp” is an exaggeration to say the least. He makes it sound as if everyone in the ballpark was booing. They were not. Even the caption on the picture of him diving later in the game for a ball that was ruled a single is absurd. Is that supposed to be another example of his horrible play lately? That’s ridiculous and misleading.

Kemp made some great plays last year, it’s true. He hasn’t made those plays yet this season, that’s also true. But he’s not butchering plays. He only has one error. He’s not Willie Mays, and he probably never will be. You clowns need to back off a good, young player who is still learning to play the game at the highest level. Or are you trying to drive him out of town when he becomes a free agent in a couple of years?

Just another “why let the facts get in the way” hatchet job by someone who wants to pick up on making Kemp the scapegoat for the teams woes.

Looks to me like he laid all-out for that ball and it got by. It happens. Even if he plays it infront of him a run scores, and that run was still good enough to beat you since AS A TEAM you can’t even score off a guy who gives up an average of a run an inning. Got a guy going against them tonight with an ERA of 16 – think they’ll score?

Why not rip Blake and Martin who can’t drive home runners from third with less than 2 outs? Why not address the great and magical Joe Torre who bats the reincarnation of Sweeney #2? Why not ream the way they went out in the 9th without so much as a wimper?

This team ends up trading or riding out of town the best position player they’ve ever come up with, and keeps the moron from SF around, I’m through and will root against this franchise as long as McCourt owns it.

I’m close anyway. It was different a couple years ago when they struggled, but at least you thought ownership and management gave a crap and was trying. Now we know they’re not. It used to be fun, sometimes funny.

BPB1 ~ everybody else is laughing at US. When we were playing pretty well, not a mention on ESPN. However, for the past two days we’ve been the topic of discussion. “What’s wrong with the Dodgers this season?” seems to be the main focus. And, yes, they agree with us….FRANK MC COURT! He did absolutely NOTHING to make this team a contender.

That is very true enchanted………..ummm BPB1. Like I said, when I first started reading ITD, it was about keeping all these young guys on the team and hoping that they would develop pretty much at the same time, but at the same time, our ownership has done nothing to help that along. They have given up, or let walk away, good pitching, they said they were going out and getting us a #1 or even #2 pitcher for two years now, and all we have gotten is Padilla to show for it, and they insist on keeping coaches around who obviously aren’t doing their jobs.

I am NOT giving up on the players. They are the only reason I am watching at the moment, and if it weren’t for Matt and Andre, we probably wouldn’t have even won the 8.

Perhaps Frank will make some remark so egregious and inflammatory that he’ll be forced to sell, under the “best interest of baseball” clause. If we’re lucky, maybe the media will bait him like they did good, ol’ Mr. Ned. For that matter maybe we, ITD, can bait him. After all, he must read this blog daily, given the enormous feedback we’ve always received from the top. Here, I’ll try.

“Hey Frank, do you think women lack the necessities to own a baseball team?”

A few days ago somebody (I forget who) said that as a form of protest, we ITDers should meet at the park across from the Ravine……wouldn’t the Yankees series be the perfect time to do this? Tail Gating not allowed inside but WE CAN! Mini-plan required but, NOT FOR US!!!!

Last nights attendance: 40,185 – the second worst attendance at DS this year. The goal for tonight: less than the season-low of 39,697. Need to get down to the Marlins level of 10,000 per night. Show Frank what we think of him by not showing up.

trublu, humbly, I threw that out there and you know, the Yankee series sounds like a great time to do it. Good call. But what happens if the Dodgers are in first place by then? Oh, never mind. Pipe dream. Besides, win or lose, Frank’s wallet needs to hurt. As for the surrounding parks, I remember on the day of the ITD tour last year, there was a motorcycle party/rally of THOUSANDS of humans just hanging out, eating and drinking, and having a grand old time. Police. Helicopters. We could make banners! Something hard-hitting, like “Frank is Geek.”

I can see it now…all our top players (the prior young ones Matt, Andre, Martin, Loney, etc. etc.) will find a better organization and then we will have to start all over with YOUNG ONES again. And I don’t blame them for wanting to leave….THEY WANT TO WIN! I know it is still early in the season…but if we know what the problem is why isn’t it getting fix…why wait! What are they waiting for! I know we are in a recession…cut the damn HUGE bonuses to upper management. NED don’t need a bonus, he is not playing his heart out. And get us some pitchers and great pitching coaches.

Sounds great, Kahli….I think all of the brownpaperbaggers could make wonderful signs! lol
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Today is National Honesty Day and:
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I HONESTLY don’t like what Frank and Jamie have doone to our franchise.
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I HONESTLY don’t like Ned.
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I HONESTLY think Joe sucks as a manager.
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I HONESTLY wish the entire current staff would be gone.
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And, I HONESTLY wish Frank would be forced to SELL THE TEAM!!!

You know, as I sit here, I realize The Los Angeles Dodgers are BIGGER than any one owner. This city should NOT be held hostage by an individual who cannot devote resources or time to OUR city’s team. This is not simply an investment or a business opportunity. It’s a privilege. Way back, it was up to the commissioner, when he approved this star-crossed sale, to “feel” the potential disaster, and it’s even more important that he act now. Trouble is, the current commissioner is a buffoon.

Good news from sparkle
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Nothing to do but tough it out. If I lived a little closer, perhaps I’d wind up in the park as well. That package you had to buy into to see NY still leaves a bad taste. Out here in SE Utah , all I can do is wait.

So in regards to the article that Eric posted (Nice letter by the way!) I had previously read it and felt it was slanted against kemp. The photo that is shown where he’s laying out for the ball was a seperate play in the 4th inning where he made a great attempt on a ball that was slicing away from him.
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The play in the 1st he did misplay and he stated so.
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My guess is he was trying so hard to make the catch that he misplayed it. Baseball is a sport that you have to play relaxed and not be pumped up. I think the way Ned has gone about this is all wrong and has & will have a negative impact on their play.
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As mentioned if he played the ball properly a run would of scored anyway and we didn’t score so it was a bit of a non-factor. More bad timing which this team has had all season long starting with that damn trip to Asia.

Notice too collie that Ned is the mouthpiece for the organization right now. Most owners (and especially ones that really cared) would be saying something about this themselves by now. Can you imagine a Cuban or Steinbrenner hiding under the desk?

Frank won’t even have Josh address the security issue at the stadium on here. But we do get to hear that Frank wants to add a bycycle race to the L.A. Marathon event.

This organization is Fouled Unbelieveably. And that’s with a capital F and a capital U Frank!!

BPB – Sort of crazy and shows poor business sense if you ask me. You would think that he would want to get things right with one thing before taking on a second. Also in terms of standing up and being accountable for the team. He’s reminding me of Jim Carey in the movie Dumb & Dumber where he’s in the fetal position in a diners bathroom stall sucking his thumb repeating “find a happy place, find a happy place”.
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Maybe Boston is that happy place.

“The Dodgers’ payroll is not reflective of a major-market team ….. and is now actually lower than that of the small-market Brewers ….. and considerably lower than that of the Minnesota Twins, a team that had been famous for low spending.”

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